Subject: NR #1995-006: Classis Bans MARS professor from CRC Pulpits
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NR #1995-006: For Immediate Release
Classis Bans Leading Professor at Mid-America Reformed Seminary from
Preaching in Christian Reformed Pulpits
by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer
Reformed Believers Press Service
(January 13, 1995) RBPS - In an unexpected move, Classis of the Heartland has
sent a notice to every classis in the Christian Reformed denomination
informing them that two former CRC ministers, Mid-America Reformed Seminary
professor Dr. Nelson Kloosterman and former Orange City First CRC pastor Rev.
Ralph Pontier, have no right to preach from any Christian Reformed pulpit.
In a December 8 letter, Classis of the Heartland stated clerk Rev. Jack Gray
informed all other classes in the Christian Reformed denomination that
"Richard Venema has a right to Christian Reformed pulpits through our
ecclesiastical fellowship with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, but neither
Nelson Kloosterman nor Ralph Pontier have any right to a Christian Reformed
pulpit."
The letter follows closely on the heels of a decision made at a special
December 7 classis meeting addressing the status of three ministers who had
recently left the CRC. Pontier and Kloosterman left during a secession from
First CRC in Orange City, Iowa, and retired minister Dr. Richard Venema
decided to leave Sheldon (IA) CRC on his own and join the Presbytery of the
Dakotas of the Orthodox Presbyterian denomination.
However, Classis of the Heartland never officially adopted the note and the
note never appears in the December 7 minutes. "I wrote the letter and I
summarized in my own words what I judged classis to have decided," said Gray.
"I quoted the minutes on the three ministers but that final paragraph is
mine."
The practical effect of the note is not entirely clear. In 1904, synod
decided that "ministers of other denominations are permitted to preach in the
churches provided that the consistory is convinced that such a minister is
committed to the Reformed confessions" (Acts of Synod 1904, p. 39; cf. Manual
of Christian Reformed Church Government, p. 252). The 1904 precedent involved
ministers of the Reformed Church in America, from which the CRC seceded in
1857 and which at that time had no ecclesiastical relationship with the
Christian Reformed denomination. Use of the 1904 precedent is by no means
limited to conservatives; some Christian Reformed congregations have even
gone as far as inviting female Presbyterian Church (USA) and Reformed Church
in America ministers to fill Christian Reformed pulpits.
"We can make statements but we don't have any effective way to police that,
nor do I think that's really our intent," said Gray. "I'm sure Kloosterman is
going to continue to preach in as many CRC's after classis as before."
"Sometimes a clarification muddies as much as it clarified, but I think in
this case with Dr. Kloosterman who travels around considerably, it seemed to
me as a stated clerk important that the classes understood the intent and the
practical result of what Classis of the Heartland did," said Gray. "In the
eyes of Classis of the Heartland, those two gentlemen, from a
denominational-ecclesiastical point of view, don't have a right to access CRC
pulpits. That's the way it is officially, but we all know we make exceptions
to the rule based on 1904."
Neither Kloosterman nor Pontier were happy with Gray's letter to other
Christian Reformed classes - and both were particularly annoyed that they
learned of the pulpit ban from the news media rather than from the letters
Grey sent them on December 8 which make no mention of the pulpit ban. "I have
never been notified by Pastor Jack of his interpretation of the classis
decision and perhaps he was too busy to let me know," said Kloosterman.
"I don't understand why Pastor Jack finds it necessary to circulate an
interpretation of a classis decision that contradicts synodical precedent and
borders on sectarianism," continued Kloosterman. "Pastor Jack's decision
tends to place denominational loyalty above commitment to the Reformed
confessions."
"I have enjoyed my years of ministry in the Christian Reformed denomination
and believe that the people of the Christian Reformed denomination are more
discerning with regard to commitment to the Reformed confessions than what
Pastor Jack may imagine," said Kloosterman. "He feels they need to protect
them while the synodical decision permits any minister committed to the
Reformed confessions to occupy a pulpit with consistorial approval."
Pontier echoed Kloosterman's concern about the pulpit ban. "I consider it to
have been a privilege to have been a Christian Reformed minister for 16
years, and consider many in the CRC to be my brothers and sisters in Christ,"
said Pontier. "Many of them share the same concerns I have about the
denomination, and I see myself separating from the trends in the denomination
rather than separating from those who are my brothers."
Kloosterman said the number of pulpit requests he received had declined
recently and suspected the pulpit ban might be the cause of the decline.
However, Kloosterman continues to receive preaching requests from Christian
Reformed congregations.
Due to his role as a parish pastor, Pontier ordinarily receives fewer
requests to fill the pulpits of other churches, but has twice filled the
Orange City First CRC pulpit since seceding from the congregation. "I've done
two CRC funerals for members of First Church in Orange City, one after the
secession but before the deposition and one after the deposition, but that's
a family matter so I suppose that doesn't count," said Pontier.
At least some in the church from which Kloosterman and Pontier seceded also
felt the letter to Christian Reformed classes was out of line. "Many people
in First CRC, including the council itself, are distressed by this decision,"
said Dr. Cornel Venema, son of Dr. Richard Venema and fellow professor with
Kloosterman at Mid-America Reformed Seminary.
The younger Venema, who remained in First CRC despite the secession from the
denomination of his father, colleague, and pastor, noted that the First CRC
council had informed Classis of the Heartland by letter that "neither the
Council nor any of its members have sought to have either of these men
disciplined."
"An attempt to impose any declaration which implies a de facto disciplinary
action could aggravate the situation we as a Council must deal with within
our congregation, as well as relationships between family and friends who are
divided in the aftermath of our church split," the First CRC letter
continued. "In recent weeks we have witnessed positive signs of the healing
process beginning to take hold and we would be very disappointed to see this
progress undermined by any decision of Classis."
Venema wondered why the classis did not follow the request of the First CRC
letter. "Everything seems to be measured in terms of the Christian Reformed
Church, but the foundational question is our relationship to Jesus Christ,"
said Venema. "You can't make adherence to a denomination a fundamental
criterion for faithfulness. I thought we believe in a church that is much
larger and bigger than the Christian Reformed Church."
Gray, however, rebutted suggestions that the classis had acted without
regard to the pain of families which had been split by the secession. "I
think classis did this with a great deal of personal pain and sorrow," said
Gray. "This was no joyful thing, we got rid of these guys; these are friends,
colleagues, we very deeply regret their departure from the Christian Reformed
Church."
"Lest Classis of the Heartland appear heartless that should be said, our
classis was really pained by their actions - a great deal of pain," said
Gray.
Crossreferences to Related RBPS Articles:
#1995-007: Three Conservative Ministers Declared "Dismissed" or "Deposed" for
Leaving Christian Reformed Denomination
Contact List:
Rev. Jack Gray, Stated Clerk, Classis of the Heartland
708 - 5th St., Orange City, IA 51041-1804 * O: (712) 737-2797 * H: (712)
737-2997
Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, Professor, Mid-America Reformed Seminary
Rt. 2, Box 163, Orange City, IA 51041 * O: (712) 737-3446 * H: (712)
737-4838 * FAX: (712) 737-3318
Rev. Ralph Pontier, Pastor, Redeemer Alliance Reformed Church
207 Kansas Ave. NW, Orange City, IA 51041 * H: (712) 737-4901
Dr. Cornelis Venema, Professor, Mid-America Reformed Seminary
Rt. 2, Box 163, Orange City, IA 51041 * (712) 737-4838
Dr. Richard Venema
1930 E. 6th St., Sheldon, IA 51201 * H: (712) 324-2993
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